Scarlett Letter
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The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne was borne into a New England family on July 4th, 1804. Being related to Judge Hathorne, who participated in the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 and was cursed, he decided to add a "W" to his name to disguise his past. Nathaniel was a very brilliant man and was said to be " the handsomest young man of this day, in that part of the world" (Reader Digest 1). Hawthorne "led a shy and somber life"(Field's), due to his past, Nathaniel felt Haunted, which set the mode for the "Scarlet Letter".
Hester Prynne, the book's protagonist, is the bearer of The Scarlet Letter. The red letter "A" that Hester has to wear the entire book is a symbol of her sinful acts. Hester committed adultry while her elderly husband, Roger Chillingworth, was being held captive by the natives. Chillingworth sent her ahead to America and during their time away Hester became pregnant.
Hesters' acts of betrayal confronted her with many hardships. From the day her illegitimate child, Pearl, is born until the day her lover, Dimmesdale, passes away...